The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-09-01
THE PANIC AT PERDID0.

-CDlcaYO 1ElDu00s
THE PANIC AT PERDIDO.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
Just how or when Perdido entered
upon an era of "fush times" is a
matter of small Importance.
The village was connected with the
outside world by astage making daily
rips to a river landing, distance OF
about a dozen miles.
"Here's the Metropolitan" shouted
The stage driver, as we rolled up in
ront OF a big two-story wooden build
ng, with broad piazza running all
The way around it,
As the Metropolitan was the only
MOTEL in Perdido, lost no time in Sc
curing q room, Then / strolled out
On the piazza to take a look at things.
"Pow'ful peart town, amt it,"
The speaker was my Landlord, Mr..
zeb Duke.
Iraw nothing to distinguish the
place from other villages in the cotton
belt of the southwest, but as it was
Unnecessary to mention this fact to
Mr.. Duke, / fell into his mood, and
answered accordingly.
"You see befo' you. sir, the comm
metrorerlis of the southwest"
"Well, yes" replied, "there is plen
~ OF room for your expansion"
Mr.. Duke regarded ME doubtfully
:or moment.
But his distrust, if he felt any was
only temporary. He introduced the
!oungers on the piazza with indescrim-
mate courtesy, but with significant
emphasis when he pronounced the
aame OF Colonel Arper.
The colonel would have impressed
most people as find looking man,
but thought that his face had reck-
less, wicked expression. His
black moustache and beard matched
his hair, and yet in the
sunlight each separate hair
looked like quivering thread of fire.
He had bold black eyes, and a dark
completion wearing the flush that re-
suits from deep and strong potations.
I did not like this man, and yet it
was plain that he was doing his best
to be genial and clever. HIS short
round figure was that of the typical
Jolly man, but although the Colonel
made Jokes and laughed at them there
was false ring about his mirth.
"Cunnle," said Mr.. Duke, speaking
up suddenly, "How many bales do
you count on this year?'
About hundred," was the indiffer.
ent answer.
you'll push it to thousand yet"
suggested one of the crowd.
ooh, yes," said the Colonel, "when
get some more nigeers. After next
year I am going to set my stake for q
thousand bAles every season."
A little more talk on this line in.
formed me that Arper had the finest
plantation on the river, that he owned
several hundred slaves, and that he
was from every point of view the big
yest man in all that region. As it was
my intention to spend some time at
Perdido, found myself interested in
much that was discussed by these
hotel gossips. Something turned the
conversation to the business out. look
when Mr.. Duke volunteered g. piece of
information.
"Pedder has sued Sexton and swears
he will sell hun OUT
A burst of profanity from Colonel
Arper shocked me out Of my usual
selt-possession. y
"Sexton is q blankety blank fool to
stand it," he said in conclusion.
"But If he is indebted to Pedder,
how can he help HIMSELF" I asked.
There was a general smile all round
the circle. Zeb Duke laughed heartily.
Colonel Arper did not smile. He
frowned, and q black cloud seemed to
settle over his face.
"Pedder picks his man." he said
sternly. ''Do you think he would sue
ine?"
"No, indeed! OF course mott" came
in a chorus from the crowd.
"Pedder knows me-" continued the
Colonel "and he knows my peculiari-
ties. One of my pecnliarities, as you
all know. is fondness for the shot
gun. The shot gun, gentlemen, is a
great regulator. 1t will settle a diff
ference of opinion quicker than any
thing else. No, ! have never been
sued, nor refused credit, and such q
thing is not likely to occur"
There was an appreciative silence,
broken only by few abmiring expires.
sions OF approval. The Colonel laid
his hand in a friendly way on my
knee.
II am worth, ! suppose. fully two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars
said lie but l owe something like
three hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. Yet nobody sues me, and no
body thinks of it, and my credit i.
first-class. What do you think o
that?"
suggested that the people had con
fidence in him.
"That's the secret" replied the Col
onel. "That is all there is In it. They
know my views, my peculiarities, and
they have confidence in me. Now, j
credit is the life of trade, confidence il
the life of credit. The man who de
stroys confidence in me ruins my cred
it. breakes ME up. just the same al
kills me, and by Cd, for such con
duct would kill any man that walks
the earth!"
"And serve him right, too, Cunnle,' u
chimed in Mr.. Duke. "Tm with you.'
The unanimity ofsentlment prevent
ed discussion, and the colonel's DO
lite invitation to accompany him tt
the bar was accepted with alacrity.
''Those are mine, Zeb, he said Will
graceful wave of his hand. after v,
bad imbibed our various beverages. =
Don't mention it, cir, That's al